Last year, Discovery Health released patients’ ratings of SA’s top 20 private hospitals with some interesting results.

The Western Cape led the pack with an impressive nine private hospitals in the list. Kwazulu-Natal came in second with five private hospitals with Gauteng and The Free State each featuring two private hospitals in joint third. Mpumalanga and North-West each only had one hospital in the list.

Here Are SA’s Top 20 Private Hospitals

When illness strikes, we would like to know that our health-related needs are as important to the medical care giver who admits us as they are to us. The below information was gathered by Discovery Health, over a number of years, from patients who had been hospitalised.

Life Mount Edgecombe Hospital in Kwazulu-Natal

Life Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein

Kuils River Private Hospital in Cape Town

N1 City Hospital in Cape Town

Melomed Bellville Hospital in Cape Town

Ethekwini Hospital & Heart Centre in Durban

Hillcrest Private Hospital in Durban

Lowveld Hospital in Nelspruit

Midvaal Private Hospital in Vereeniging

Wilmed Park Private Hospital in Klerksdorp

Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital in Pretoria

HooglandMediclinic in Bethlehem

Milnerton Mediclinic in Cape Town

Panorama Mediclinic in Cape Town

Stellenbosch Mediclinic

Cape GateMediclinic in Cape Town

Hermanus Mediclinic

Howick Mediclinic

Louis LeipoldtMediclinic in Cape Town

Victoria Mediclinic in KwaZulu-Natal

What is a Hospital Plan?

Hospital plans refer to all hospital services used when admitted to hospital, such as the anaesthetist and surgeon fees. This plan should not be confused with hospital insurance or hospital cash-back plans.

A hospital plan has to pay for 270 Prescribed Minimum Benefits, when treated in a hospital, and for the treatment of 26 chronic conditions.

So what’s the difference? A hospital plan pays up to a certain limit for the procedures and treatment that you receive in a hospital. Whereas hospital cash-back plans tend to pay for the time you spend in hospital.

SA’s Cheapest Hospital Plans

With the growing inflation and worrying economic climate, many consumers are worried about how they will manage, come the new year, when medical aid providers raise their premiums. Discovery Health announced last week that they will be raising their premiums by an average of 10.2% in January 2017.

This is almost 2% higher than last year’s average of 8.6%. With South Africa’s Consumer Index only rising by 6.8%, many South Africans will be looking to tighten their belts and opt for cheaper hospital plans in order to stay above water.

With Discovery Health enjoying the lion’s share of SA’s medical aid market and over three million customers, many South Africans may balk upon reading January 2017’s statement, unless they opt for a cheaper package sooner.

Cheapest Hospital Plans

Scheme

Cost for Principle Member

Discovery Health Keycare Core

R665 – R1281

Genesis Private Choice

R950

Momentum Custom Option 1

R1152

FedHealth Entryzone

R1179

Discovery Health Essential Delta Core

R1190

Discovery Health Coastal Core

R1302

Bonitas BonEssential

R1316

Resolution Health Hospital Plan

R1375

Discovery Health Smart Plan

R1397

Genesis Private

R1420

MediHelp Dimension Prime 1

R1452

Discovery Health Essential Core

R1499

Momentum Custom Option 2

R1557

FedHealth Maxima Core

R1695

Discovery Health Classic Core

R1745

Cheapest Hospital Plans (With Savings)

This plan is almost the same as the above-mentioned plans, except they provide a limited savings account for day-to-day use.

Scheme

Cost for Principle Member

MediHelp Unify

R1752

Genesis Private Plus

R1800

Discovery Health Essential Saver

R1862

Discovery Health Coastal Saver

R1 862

Discovery Health Classic Delta Saver

R1872

Bonitas BonSave

R1908

MediHelp Dimension Prime 2

R1926

MedShield MediSaver

R2343

Discovery Health Classic Saver

R2344

FedHealth Maxima Standard

R2693

Momentum Extender Option 1

R3303

Resolution Health Millenium

R3592

Momentum Extender Option 2

R4 061

Hospital Plans (With Day-to-Day Cover)

Day-to-day cover provides for all your pharmaceutical and medical practice expenses. These include visiting the chiropractor or purchasing over-the-counter medication. This cover falls away and is renewed at the end of each year.